Tagus River | river, Iberian Peninsula | Britannica.com river, Iberian Peninsula river Tagus River, Portuguese Rio Tejo, Spanish Río Tajo, longest waterway of the Iberian Peninsula . It rises in the Sierra de Albarracín of eastern Spain , at a point about 90 miles (150 km) from the Mediterranean coast, and flows westward across Spain and Portugal for 626 miles (1,007 km) to empty into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon . Its drainage basin of 31,505 square miles (81,600 square km) is only exceeded on the peninsula by that of the Ebro River , to the northeast. The Tagus covers the heart of Portugal and Spain and has been of vital importance to the modern economic development of the two nations. Tagus River, Port. Okamok The upper Tagus cuts into limestone rocks and flows generally southwestward through narrow, sinuous valleys with deep canyons and abundant ravines.

Near Trillo (Guadalajara province) it runs more peacefully, and just before the town of Bolarque it is held back by the dams of Entrepeñas and Buendía, forming an artificial lake known as the Sea of Castile, which covers an area of 51 square miles (132 square km). Again flowing southwestward, the river irrigates the fertile lands of Aranjuez and the areas around Toledo and Talavera de la Reina until it reaches the province of Cáceres. Here it again flows through narrow, steep-edged trenches formed by quartzites and shales. At Puente de Alcántara another dam on the river has formed one of the greatest man-made lakes in Europe , with a length of 57 miles (92 km). Less than 10 miles (16 km) downstream the river becomes the frontier between Spain and Portugal for 27 miles (43 km). It enters Portugal at Beira and the Sierra de Carbajo, then crosses the fertile region of Abrantes.

After flowing across Portugal for 111 miles (179 km), it forms at Vila Franca de Xira the Tagus (or Lisbon) estuary, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Toledo is the only large Spanish city that lies along the river, which flows past the cities of Santarém and Lisbon in Portugal and supplies the latter with a fine natural harbour. Only the lower portion of the river is used for navigation of any importance. Similar Topics European Rivers - Rivers of Europe, Map of Rivers in Europe, Major Rivers in Europe - Worldatlas.com European Rivers - Rivers of Europe, Map of Rivers in Europe, Major Rivers in Europe World Facts DANUBE Beginning in the Black Forest region of Germany, it flows across central Europe and the countries of Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Yugoslavia. It then forms the border between Romania and Bulgaria, turning north across Romania to eventually end in the Black Sea. It's (1,771 miles) (2,850 km) in length, and one of the most significant commercial waterways on the continent. DNIEPER Rising in the southwestern part of the Russian Federation, it flows generally south through Belarus, then southeast through Ukraine, ending in the Black Sea.

Overall it's (1,420 miles) (2,285 km) in length. DON Beginning it the southwestern Russian Federation, to the south of Moscow, it flows southeasterly towards the Volga, then turns abruptly west, ending in the Sea of Azov. Overall it's (1,224 miles) (1,969 km) in length. ELBE Rising in the Czech Republic, the Elbe River then flows north through Germany, ending in the North Sea near Cuxhaven. It's (724 miles) (1,165 km) in length. LOIRE Recognized as the longest river in France, the navigable Loire begins in the foothills of the Massif Central, then flows north and west across the heartland of France, finally ending in the Bay of Biscay. It's (634 miles) (1,020 km) in length. ODER Rising in the rugged mountains of the eastern Czech Republic, it flows west and north through south-central Poland, eventually emptying into the Baltic Sea. It's (567 miles) (912 km) in length.

PO Italy's longest river begins in the upper reaches of the Alps, flowing west to east across northern Italy, ending in the Adriatic Sea. It's (405 miles) (652 km) in length. RHINE Forming in the mountains of southeastern Switzerland, this legendary river flows west, forming Switzerland's northeastern border with Germany, then runs directly north through western Germany forming part of that country's border with France, then finally dissecting the Netherlands and ending in the North Sea. Numerous tributaries and branches run in all directions, and in overall length is (820 miles) (1,319 km). RHONE Begin high in the Swiss Alps, this fast moving river flows into the eastern end of Lake Geneva, then south through south-eastern France, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. Small branches run in all directions, and in overall length, it's (300 miles) (485 km). SHANNON Rising in northwestern Ireland, it flows south through a series of lakes, then turns west to eventually empty into the Atlantic Ocean. It's 230 miles (370 km) in length.

TAGUS The Tagus River rises in the central highlands of Spain, flowing southwest across Portugal, then south to Lisbon and the Atlantic Ocean. It's 626 miles (1,007 km) in length. Volga The Volga is the largest river in European Russia in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. It's 3,692 km (2,294 mi) long Space in Images - 2015 - 02 - Lisbon, Portugal Space in Images Description This image from Sentinel-1A’s radar shows the metropolitan area of Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. Flowing in from the upper-right corner is the Tagus River. Originating in central Spain, the Tagus is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula, stretching over 1000 km. The river flows west through Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. Its estuary – visible at the centre of the image – is a natural reserve and Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.

With extensive mudflats, saltmarshes, reedbeds and human-made salt pans, the area is important for around 16 species of wintering or staging waterbirds, numerous species of breeding birds, and the European otter. Activities outside of the reserve include fishing, shellfish collecting and agriculture, as we can see by the geometric shapes of agricultural plots. Lisbon’s city centre sits on the northern shore of the Tagus River, and is visible by the bright radar reflections from buildings and other structures. We can also see the reflections from the suspension bridge that connects Lisbon to Almada on the southern shore. Further east, though not as clear, is the Vasco da Gama Bridge, the longest in Europe, at 17.2 km. This image, also featured on the Earth from Space video programme , was acquired on 8 October 2014 by Sentinel-1A, the first satellite developed for Europe’s Copernicus programme. The next, Sentinel-2A, is foreseen to be launched this spring.

Id 334743 Lisbon | national capital, Portugal | Britannica.com national capital, Portugal Alternative Titles: Felicitas Julia, Lisboa, Lixbuna, Luzbona, Olisipo, Olissibona, Ulixbone Related Topics Luís de Camões Lisbon, Portuguese Lisboa, city, port, capital of Portugal , and the centre of the Lisbon metropolitan area. Located in western Portugal on the estuary of the Tagus (Tejo) River , it is the westernmost capital city in continental Europe and serves as the country’s chief port, largest city, and commercial, political, and tourist centre. The city’s name is a modification of the ancient Olisipo (Ulyssipo), and its founding has been attributed to the legacy of Ulysses ( Odysseus ), the hero of Homer ’s Odyssey; to Elisha , purported to have been a grandson of the Hebrew patriarch Abraham ; and, more credibly, to Phoenician colonists. Lisbon owes its historical prominence to its natural harbour, one of the most beautiful in the world. Area city, 33 square miles (85 square km). Pop.

(2001) city, 564,657; metro. area, 2,661,850; (2011) city, 547,733; metro. area, 2,821,876. Lisbon. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Character of the city Once a remote outpost on what was thought to be the farthest edge of the known world, Lisbon had established itself as a centre of operations for Portuguese exploration by the 15th century. The city centre was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755 but was rebuilt by the marquês de Pombal . This seagirt city of multicoloured houses and elegant parks and gardens is no longer the capital of a vast overseas empire. It has been reconstructed as a bustling modern metropolis. In fact, Lisbon was designated a European City of Culture in 1994, and in 1998 it hosted the World’s Fair (Expo ’98).

That event sparked the city’s biggest renewal project since the rebuilding that followed the 1755 earthquake, including the construction of the combined road-rail Vasco da Gama Bridge and other extensive upgrades of the city’s transportation infrastructure . The fair also was the primary catalyst for the construction along the Tagus River of an oceanarium, marinas, hotels, commercial complexes, and entertainment venues . A residential tower over the Vasco da Gama shopping centre in the Expo area of Lisbon. Pedro Moura Pinheiro Fátima Despite modernization, Lisbon in many ways retains the air of a 19th-century city. The varinas (fish vendors) who roam the streets dressed in long black skirts still carry their wares in baskets on their heads. Vessels tie up at quays where the clang of trolley cars blends with ships’ horns. At dawn, fishing boats deposit their catch for noisy auction with Lisbon shop owners while the fish vendors wait to fill the baskets they peddle through the streets. Farther inland the fish market gives way to the equally colourful and clamorous fruit and vegetable market. Lisbon’s port maintains an intimacy with its city that was common in the days before steam.

Amid the freighters, warships, cruise liners, and ferryboats, a picturesque note is struck by the fragatas of Phoenician origin; these crescent-shaped boats with their striking black hulls and pink sails still perform most of the harbour’s lighterage. Flower sellers in Rossio Square, Lisbon. Peter Thompson—Spectrum Colour Library/Impact Photos/Heritage-Images The general outlines of the city remain as they have for hundreds of years. Lisbon is still a city of balconies and vistas. Some of the most striking of the latter can be seen from the miradouros, the terraces maintained by the municipality on seven of its hillsides. (Many Lisboetas, as the people of Lisbon are known, profess their city to have seven traditional hills, like Rome.) For centuries Lisboetas have discussed the symptoms of an affliction they believe to be endemic in their city: saudade (“melancholy”), a state of anxiety tempered by fatalism that is said to be reflected in fado (“fate”), the melodic but deeply emotional folk songs that can still be heard in specific restaurants, mainly in the historic quarters of Alfama and Bairro Alto.

Building at the edge of the Bairro Alto district of Lisbon. Maurits van der Hoofd Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales City site The city lies on the north bank of the Tagus River estuary, about 8 miles (13 km) from the river’s entrance into the Atlantic Ocean . From the ocean upstream to the city, the river is almost straight and about 2 miles (3 km) wide. It is spanned, on the west side of the city, by the 25th of April Bridge . Just east of the bridge, the Tagus suddenly broadens into a bay 7 miles (11 km) wide called the Mar de Palha (“Sea of Straw”) because of the way that it shimmers in the sun. Scenically spectacular, this hill-cradled bay of burnished water lies on a strategic sea route and serves as a busy port, handling much of the trade between Portugal and Spain . The 25th of April Bridge over the Tagus River, Lisbon. © M.A.C./Shutterstock.com Capitals & Cities: Fact or Fiction?

Lisbon is built in a succession of terraces up the slopes of a range of low rolling hills that rise from the banks of the Tagus River and the Mar de Palha northwest toward the Sintra Mountains , whose covering of lush Mediterranean and Atlantic European flora provides an attractive retreat for the city’s population. Sections of the city vary considerably in elevation, especially in the older areas along the water’s edge, which offer splendid views of the river and the low cliffs that line the river’s southern shore. Several geologic faults cross Lisbon and the surrounding region, but, notwithstanding the devastating earthquake of 1755, seismic activity has been limited to slight tremors since the 20th century. Climate Lisbon has a mild and equable climate, with a mean annual temperature in the low 60s F (about 17 °C). The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the influence of the Gulf Stream mediate the weather conditions throughout the year. January, the coldest month, has an average temperature of 50 °F (10 °C), and in August the temperature seldom exceeds 82 °F (28 °C).

Average monthly rainfall ranges from 0.1 inch (3 mm) in summer up to about 4 inches (100 mm) in winter. City layout Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest It is traditional for poets to refer to the entwining Tagus as Lisbon’s lover. The river is indeed an ever-present part of the city’s decor, and the official entrance to Lisbon is a broad marble staircase mounting from the water to the vast arcaded Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio). The three landward sides of the square are surrounded by uniform buildings dating from the 18th century. That formal Baroque-inspired layout is pierced by a monumental archway, built a century later, marking the entry north into the central city. In the middle of the square stands a bronze statue of King Joseph I on horseback, an important work by the sculptor Joachim Machado de Castro. Many government offices occupy the buildings that surround Commerce Square. Commerce Square, Lisbon. © ZTS/Shutterstock.com The square lies at the south end of Lisbon’s central district, the Cidade Baixa (“Lower City”).

The Baixa was completely rebuilt after the earthquake in 1755 under the supervision of Joseph I’s prime minister, Sebastião de Carvalho , later the marquês de Pombal. The streets are laid out in a grid pattern broken by spacious squares. A series of parallel streets, each named for its original intended occupants (e.g., Rua Áurea [“Golden Street”] for the goldsmiths), runs north from Commerce Square to Dom Pedro IV Square, locally known as Rossio Square. Rossio Square is a traditional centre of activity and the starting point of the city’s main promenade, the wide, gently sloping Avenida da Liberdade . This treelined boulevard leads north from the city centre to Marquês de Pombal Circle, which features a statue of Pombal. The Baixa remains rigorously protected from change, but the four-story buildings that long lined Avenida da Liberdade and its ancillary streets have been almost totally replaced by taller edifices in a bland modern style. Dom Pedro IV Square, also called Rossio Square, Lisbon, Port.

John & Lisa Merrill—Photographers Choice/Getty In the sequence of postearthquake reconstruction, the waterfront’s renovation was followed by the rehabilitation of historical districts, such as Castelo, Alfama, Bairro Alto, Mouraria, and Madragoa, and fashionable residential areas, such as Chiado, Lapa, Estrela, and Príncipe Real. In 1988 a fire destroyed part of the city’s historic Chiado district, which was rebuilt as a shopping area during the 1990s. Rua Garrett in Chiado is lined with boutiques, silver and porcelain shops, cafés, and bookstores. Peripheral neighbourhoods, such as Ajuda to the west, Rato-Amoreiras to the north, and Graça to the east, were also planned at this time. “Arco de Jesus” alley in the Alfama district of Lisbon.

Maurits van der Hoofd Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Directly east of the Baixa lies Alfama (Arabic: Al-Ḥammah; “Hot Spring”); one of the oldest quarters of the city, it has a blend of Roman and Moorish architecture and narrow streets that crowd between a jumble of houses down to the river. In this area, on the hill where Lisbon was first founded, the Castle of St. George (Castelo de São Jorge) towers over the city. The castle is Moorish in origin and was named for England’s patron saint, in honour of an alliance made in 1386 between Portugal and England. Just below it, the austere white church and monastery of St. Vincent guards the remains of the saint, which (according to legend) were miraculously brought to the city in a ship guided by two ravens. To commemorate the event, the birds are depicted on the Lisbon coat of arms. Narrow street in the Alfama quarter of Lisbon. © Anton Gvozdikov/Shutterstock.com Lisbon with the Castle of St. George and the Tagus River in the background.

Pedro Moura Pinheiro Also to the east, Chelas and Olivais-Sul, two public housing districts implanted on heathland previously considered too difficult to build upon, provide residence for lower-income families. Despite these government-sponsored projects, adequate housing remains a problem as an influx of immigrants (mainly Africans, eastern Europeans, and Brazilians) has caused a housing deficit. A number of neighbourhoods extend west of the Baixa toward suburban Belém . Each possesses its own distinctive character, reflecting the epoch in which it was built. The Bairro Alto (“Upper District”), for example, dates primarily from the 16th century. It is characterized by its maze of straight and narrow streets. Some of these streets, especially those leading down to the Baixa, are so steep that they terminate abruptly, giving way to stairs, cable cars, and, in one case, an elevator (the Santa Justa Lift; an iron structure designed by French architect Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard). Just west and north of the heart of Bairro Alto is the Palace of the National Assembly , also known as the Palace of São Bento. Nearby is the official residence of Portugal’s prime minister.

Farther west, toward Belém, Necessidades Palace houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Santa Justa Lift, Lisbon. Opium Wars The Belém Palace, a former royal residence, is the official home of the president of the republic. The Belém area reflects Portugal’s maritime past and is known for its Manueline (early 16th-century) architecture, notably the Jerónimos Monastery, founded by Manuel I in 1499, and the Tower of Belém (1515–21; designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983), which was built to defend the city. The Monument to the Discoveries (1960), on the Tagus River, commemorates Portuguese explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries. The Belém-Restelo district, a sumptuous residential area in the western periphery , developed from the 1940s. Tower of Belém, Lisbon. © Anton Gvozdikov/Shutterstock.com Transportation Lisbon is connected by rail and road to the interior of Portugal and to the rest of Europe.

The 1.5-mile- (2.4-km-) long 25th of April Bridge , one of the longest suspension bridges in western Europe, has served as the main roadway into the city since it was built in the mid-1960s. Inaugurated in 1998, just in time for the World’s Fair, the cable-stayed, combined-purpose Vasco da Gama Bridge , connecting Lisbon and the eastern portion of the metropolitan area to the southern shore, relieved traffic congestion on the 25th of April Bridge and provided additional rail access. A number of other public- and private-funded improvements to the city’s transportation infrastructure were undertaken in the1990s in preparation for the fair. Notably, a new subway line was added to the system whose first route opened in 1959, and the trolley system in the historic district that primarily served tourists was refurbished and expanded. Also expanded and modernized was the airport at Portela de Sacavém, some 6 miles (10 km) northeast of the city centre, which offers flights to Europe , the Americas, and Africa .

The construction of new highways and underground parking lots increased automobile usage, however, and the abundance of cars increased traffic and pollution in the city. Trolley car, Lisbon. © Gary James Calder/Shutterstock.com Health As a major urban centre, Lisbon has a higher percentage of doctors and other health professionals than the rest of Portugal. The city’s hospitals include state, private, and military establishments. Since the 1990s, efforts have been made to modernize the city’s public hospitals, and branches of larger hospitals have opened in other areas of the city. Education Officially, education in Portugal is free and compulsory for children ages 6 through 15. In addition to public schools, Lisbon has many private schools, including American, French, German, Spanish, and Swedish schools.The medieval University of Lisbon was founded in 1288 and remained Portugal’s only university until the 16th century. It moved back and forth between Lisbon and Coimbra several times before settling in Lisbon from 1377 to 1537, when it permanently relocated to Coimbra and took the name of that city. Thus, the capital was left without a university until 1911, when the University of Lisbon was restored.

The Technical University of Lisbon was founded in 1930, and the New University of Lisbon opened in the city during the 1970s. The Catholic University of Portugal was established under the tutelage of the Roman Catholic Church in 1968. Lisbon also has a large number of specialized colleges and polytechnic institutes. Prior to the 1974 coup in Portugal, university education was restricted to the elite. Not until the 1990s did the number of university applicants increase, and then, after a brief flourishing of private universities, student applications decreased again in the 2000s. Many Portuguese students have chosen to study abroad, especially in the United Kingdom , while a number of new immigrants have opted to enter the workforce rather than pursue higher education. Page 1 of 2 Portugal - GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY Portugal Table of Contents Portugal shares the Iberian Peninsula with Spain, although it is only about one-sixth as large as its neighbor. Including the Azores (A�ores in Portuguese) and Madeira, the country has a total area of 92,080 square kilometers. Portugal lies on the westernmost promontory of continental Europe.

The rugged Pyrenees Mountains separate Iberia from the heart of the European continent, and Portugal is even further distant across the vastness of Spain. Distance and isolation have created in Portugal a sense that it is a part of Europe geographically but apart from it culturally, socially, economically, politically, and even psychologically. Even in the early 1990s, Lisbon (Lisboa in Portuguese) was a two-to-three-day drive from Paris . Portugal is bounded on the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and on the north and east by Spain. The country's shape is roughly that of a rectangle, with its short sides on the north and south and its long sides on the east and west. Portugal's Atlantic coastline is 837 kilometers long; its northern and eastern frontiers with Spain are 336 and 839 kilometers long, respectively. Historically, Portugal emerged as a separate country during centuries of struggle with the Spanish provinces of Le�n and Castile. Even hundreds of years after breaking away from Spain for the last time in 1640, fears remained in Portugal that it might one day be swallowed up by larger and more powerful Spain, perhaps not militarily, but culturally and economically.

That sentiment is expressed by the Portuguese proverb that "neither a good wind nor a good marriage ever come from Spain." Meanwhile, Portugal's long coast has given it an "Atlantic vocation" and propelled its historic ventures of global exploration and colonization. Portugal is not a homogeneous country geographically. The physical environment varies enormously, creating several distinct geographic regions that, in turn, have shaped the culture of the people and their economy and society. Northern Portugal is a mountainous, rainy region, characterized by many small farms and vineyards. The Portuguese nation began in this region, fending off Le�n and Castile while simultaneously driving the Moors south and eventually out of the peninsula. It is a desolate area of rocky hillsides where smallholders have eked out a meager existence for hundreds of years. This region is also said to be the origin of the strongest Portuguese national values of hard work, thrift, traditionalism, Roman Catholicism, and practicality. It is also an area, however, that has lost many of its inhabitants through emigration. Central Portugal, between the Rio Douro in the north and the Rio Tejo (Tagus River in English), including the capital city of Lisbon and its environs, is less homogeneous.

The central coastal region consists of dunes and pine forests, and many residents of the area earn their livelihood from fishing. The central eastern areas, known as the Beira, consist of mainly small and medium-sized farms, with some mining and light industry. The greater Lisbon area, including both the city and its suburbs, accounts for most of the nation's commerce and much of its industry. Southern Portugal, known as the Alentejo (literally, "beyond the Tejo") is an area of gently rolling hills and plains dominated by extensive estates with large-scale agriculture and grazing. It was traditionally also a land of often embittered tenant farmers and peasants. In contrast to the conservative north, the Alentejo was an area of radical political movements; for a long time, the Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugu�s--PCP) was the strongest party in the region. The extreme south of Portugal is known as the Algarve. It is a dry region of smallholdings, grazing, and fishing, and coastal towns. This is the area of Portugal most strongly influenced by the Moors; even today the Moorish influence is present in the region's dialect and architecture.

With its warm climate and Mediterranean sky, the Algarve has also become a center for tourism and a home to many foreign retirees. Historically, Portugal was divided administratively into six provinces that corresponded closely to these natural geographic divisions. The north consisted of two provinces, the coastal Minho and the interior Tr�s-os-Montes. The center was made up of Beira and Estremadura, and the south consisted of the Alentejo and the Algarve. Later these historical provinces were further subdivided for administrative purposes, but the historical names have been retained in popular usage. Even though it is a small country, Portugal has a wide variety of landforms, climatic conditions, and soils. The major difference is between the mountainous regions of the north and, across the Rio Tejo, the great rolling plains of the south. Within these two major regions are further subdivisions that reflect the country's vast differences. The Minho and Tr�s-os-Montes are both mountainous, but whereas the former is green with abundant rainfall, the latter is dry and parched. The Beira Litoral and Estremadura are younger geologically and contain sandstone, limestone, and volcanic rock.

Beira Alta (Upper Beira) is mountainous and forms a barrier across the center of Portugal, but Beira Baixa (Lower Beira) is dry and windswept, an extension of the Spanish plateau. The Alentejo consists of gentle hills and plains. Because it is one of the driest areas in the country, it is not suitable for intensive agriculture. The area does support cattle raising, as well as cork oak and some grains. It is separated from the Algarve by two mountain ranges, the Serra de Monchique and the Serra do Caldeirao. Geography and topography are also reflected in the climate. The mountainous regions of the north are considerably colder than the south. Winter snows in the Serra da Estr�la (which contains Portugal's highest peak at 1,986 meters) and the Serra do Ger�s near the northern Spanish border may block roads for a time. The weather along the northern coasts and in the center of the country is milder; Lisbon has an average high temperature of 14�C in January and 27�C in August. Southern Portugal is warmer.

The ocean moderates coastal temperatures, but the interior of the Alentejo can be quite warm, with temperatures sometimes above 40�C during the summer months. Because of its Mediterranean climate, most of Portugal's rainfall occurs in the winter, the north receiving much more rain than the south. Portugal has ten major rivers, five of which have their origins in Spain. The Rio Minho begins in Spanish Galicia and for a distance of seventy-four kilometers forms the northern Portuguese frontier with Spain. The Rio Douro is of great importance to the commerce of northern Portugal. It also originates in Spain and flows the entire width of Portugal before emptying into the Atlantic at Porto, the country's second largest city. The Rio Douro is navigable by small craft for its full distance of 198 kilometers in Portugal; historically the river was used to transport casks of port wine to Porto. Its steep banks are terraced with vineyards, and the valley of the Rio Douro is one of the most picturesque in all Portugal. The Rio Tejo is the country's longest river, has the largest drainage basin, and is the most important economically. It is navigable only eighty kilometers upstream, but that includes the vast estuary on which Lisbon is located.

The Tejo estuary is the best natural port on the European continent and able to handle large ocean-going vessels. It also contains the Cacilhas drydocks, the largest in the world. The most important river in the south is the Rio Guadiana which, flowing north to south, forms part of the border with Spain. Other important rivers in Portugal include the Rio Lima and the Rio T�mega in the north, the Rio Mondego in the center, and the Rio Sado and Rio Chan�a in the south. The soil systems of Portugal are usually sandy, arid, and acid, reflecting the soils of the Iberian Peninsula generally. Soil in the north can be rocky. Northern Portugal is better suited for agriculture than the south because of abundant rainfall, but with proper irrigation the south could support more intensive agriculture. About one-fourth of Portugal is covered by forests (mainly pine and deciduous oak); if such cultivated tree crops as olives, cork oak, almonds, chestnuts, and citrus are counted, about one- third of the country's area is tree covered. In the northern mountains, pine, oak, poplar, and elm trees are prevalent.

Vegetation is more varied in the central region and includes citrus trees and cork oak. The warm, dry south contains many areas of rough pasture, as well as abundant cork oak. In addition to continental Portugal, the country's territory also includes the Azores and Madeira islands. The Azores consist of nine inhabited islands and several uninhabited rock outcroppings 1,280 kilometers west of the mainland in the Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago has an area of 2,278 square kilometers and a population of about 250,000. The Azores produce sufficient foodstuffs for internal consumption and some exports, but they remain even poorer than the mainland. The Madeira archipelago, located about 560 kilometers miles west of Northern Africa, consists of two inhabited and several uninhabited islands. With a total area of 788 square kilometers and a population of about 270,000 people, the archipelago is severely overpopulated.

Custom Search River Tagus | Article about River Tagus by The Free Dictionary River Tagus | Article about River Tagus by The Free Dictionary Related to River Tagus: Rio Tejo , Tajo River Tagus (tā`gəs), Span. Tajo, Port. Tejo, river, c.585 mi (940 km) long, rising in the mountains E of Madrid, E Spain, and draining the central part of the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus flows northwest through the mountains, past Teruel, then north across the Meseta of central Spain, past Toledo, to form part of the Spanish-Portuguese border. Entering Portugal, it flows southwest, past Santarém and into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. The estuary of the Tagus (12 mi/19 km long) is one of Europe's finest harbors; one of the longest suspension bridges in Europe, the Ponte 25 de Abril, spans the estuary. The Tagus is navigable for c.80 mi (130 km) upstream. Its lower and upper courses pass through deep gorges and are broken by waterfalls.

Many dams and reservoirs have been built on the Tagus and its tributaries to generate hydroelectric power and provide water for irrigation. There have been efforts to reforest the land surrounding the river. The chief tributaries of the Tagus are the Alagón and Jarama rivers. Tagus (Spanish, Tajo; Portuguese, Tejo), a river in Spain and Portugal. The longest river on the Iberian Peninsula, the Tagus is 1,010 km long and drains an area of 81,000 sq km. It originates in the Montes Universales and crosses the New Castile plateau from east to west and, in its lower course, the Portuguese lowland. It empties into the Atlantic Ocean, forming an estuary 45 km long. In the upper and middle courses, the valley is narrow and there are numerous rapids; in the lower course, the valley is wide and the river channel has caved in in places. The river is fed primarily by rain; there is high water from November through March and low water in summer. The mean flow rate at Alcántara, near the Spanish and Portuguese border, is 438 cu m per sec.

The Tagus and its tributaries are used for irrigation and hydroelectric power. There are several reservoirs with hydroelectric power plants on the river, including Buendía, Valdecañas de Tajo, and Alcántara in Spain. The river is navigable to Santarém (Portugal) for oceangoing vessels and to Abrantes (Portugal) for other vessels, a distance of 185 km from the mouth. The cities of Toledo (Spain) and Santarém are on the Tagus, and Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, is on the estuary. Tagus a river in SW Europe, rising in E central Spain and flowing west to the border with Portugal, then southwest to the Atlantic at Lisbon: the longest river of the Iberian Peninsula. Length: 1007 km (626 miles) GSC350 - 1755tsunamiLisbonPortugalorigin 1755tsunamiLisbonPortugalorigin THE 1755 LISBON, PORTUGAL EARTHQUAKE, TSUNAMI, & FIRE Geographical Background Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal as well as its largest city.

It lies on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where the Tagus River and the ocean meet. Portugal lands between Spain (on the right of it) and the Atlantic Ocean (on the left of it). In addition, the continent of Africa lies below it. The map above shows Portugal lying next to Spain, with the Tagus River flowing through its country. Lisbon, the capital city, lies on the edge of the Portugal, where the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean meet. Previous Natural Disasters Portugal contains numerous fault lines and lies nearby the Atlantic Ocean which also contains a large amount of faults underwater. Additionally, Lisbon is at the mouth of the Tagus River, which further enhances the hazards of Lisbon, because the lower part of the Tagus River is on top of a fault line. All of these result in the historical earthquakes experienced by Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and other adjacent countries. Being the capital city that lives on the edge of the Eurasian Plate, which collides with the African Plate, Lisbon experiences constant earthquakes. In the 14th century, Lisbon has eight recorded significant earthquakes, while in the 15th century, it had five recorded large earthquakes.

Because Portugal happens to be on the edge of where the two plates collide, Portugal has a long history of earthquakes, followed by tsunamis and other natural disasters caused by these large quakes. Although the frequency of these natural disasters is not extremely high, the effects of each event are enormously great. The impacts on the country of Portugal and other close-by nations have resulted in major deaths and damages on the economy. Because of these devastating losses for the country, Portugal began its studies of seismology, hoping that understanding the natural hazards of their location would lower their losses in the future. Some of the most significant historical disasters that impacted Portugal include the 1531 earthquake (which totaled a loss of roughly 30,000 citizens) and the 2007 earthquake (which measured a 6.1 on the Richter Scale but did not result in any damage or deaths). Other less tragic events include the 1551 earthquake that collapsed 200 houses and the 1597 earthquake that shook down the buildings of three streets.

The 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, Tsunami, & Fire On November 1st, 1755, Lisbon faced their greatest natural disaster of their history. At 9:30 am in the morning, an earthquake with an estimated intensity of magnitude 8.7 hit the city. Most of the population was in churches celebrating All Saint’s Day. The majority of the city structures began to collapse, either crushing the city residents inside or trapping them in. The shaking lasted for 9 minutes, one of the longest earthquakes in historical records. In other parts of Portugal, as well as nearby countries such as Spain and Morocco, other cities were also devastated by this natural catastrophe. Following a few minutes after the earthquake, Lisbon experienced a large tsunami. The citizens that did escape the earthquake had run to the coast to avoid the crumbling buildings, but were ultimately swallowed up by the harbor waves. Effects of the tsunami were said to have been felt all throughout the Atlantic Ocean, impacting western Europe, North Africa, North America, and the Caribbean Islands. The rest of the city had broken out in fires due to the remains of candles that set off on the debris of the city ruins.

The fires lasted for five days and destroyed most of Lisbon, the city capital. In Lisbon alone, an estimate of 30 to 40 thousand people were killed due to the 1755 earthquake, tsunami, and fire. The number of casualties throughout all of the locations that felt this event added up to an approximation of 90,000 to 100,000 deaths. Historical engravings displayed the city on fire, shook to shambles, and engulfed by the sea. Citizens are trapped with no where to go. Origin Hypothesis of the 1755 Lisbon Tsunami The 1755 earthquake that neared a magnitude 9.0 occurred 200 kilometers from the Portugal coast, in the Atlantic Ocean. In this area, the major fault that exists is the Azores – Gibraltar Fracture, where the Eurasian and African Tectonic Plates collide.

Some believe that the 1969 earthquake that occurred in the Atlantic Ocean had the same epicenter as the 1755 quake, but records say that the travel time from the epicenter to Portugal took 40 minutes during the 1755 quake while the 1969 had a travel time of 50 minutes. Scientists agree that due to the different time lengths, the two earthquakes could not have originated from the same epicenter. Even until today, the epicenter or origin of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake is still unknown. Because society lacked the technology during 1755, it has been difficult to calculate the exact number of fatalities, injuries, building damages, and so on. However, through the studies of journals and land cores, scientists have been able to formulate hypotheses and estimates. Many believe that the Azores – Gibraltar Fracture Zone is the cause of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Since the east part of the Azores – Gibraltar Fracture separates the Eurasian and African Plates, there is a lot of complex activity that takes place there. The east portion of the fracture is also known as the compression zone, where subsidence occurs.

Because the 1755 Lisbon earthquake resulted in a magnitude of 8.5-9.0, theories suggest that the only fault line within the Atlantic Ocean in this area that could impact such a great natural disaster is the Azores – Gibraltar Fracture. Due to the subsidence of one plate under another, the sea waters become displaced. The small waves become large harbor waves as they near the coast, because the ocean dept decreases near land. As the ocean level becomes shallower, the sea floor pushes the waves higher into the air, creating the monstrous 1755 Lisbon tsunami that took part in becoming Europe’s greatest natural disaster of its history. Influences on Technology Experiencing such a tragic natural disaster that caused numerous deaths and great economic loss, Europe took immediate action and began their first researches into seismology. As Europe become more educated and technologically advanced, their awareness of natural hazards allowed them to prevent the same events from repeating. Today, there are many ways to communicate early alerts to the public about potential natural disasters. In addition, there are better building codes in urban cities to help buildings withstand these hazards. Resources About.com.

"Lisbon Earthquake, 1 November 1755." < > Holmes, Oliver Wendell. Updated Mar 2008.Viewed Nov 2008. < > Kozak, Jan T., and James, Charles D. Updated Nov 1998. Viewed Nov 2008. Pararas-Carayannis, George. "The Great Lisbon Earthquake and Tsunami of 1 November 1755." Updated 2000. Viewed Nov 2008. < > Pereira, Alvaro S. The Opportunity of a Disaster: The Economic Impact of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake. Cherry Discussion Paper Series: Mar 2006. Viewed Nov 2008. < > Risk Management Solutions WebPage. < > Tilling, Heliker, and Wright. United States Geological Survey WebPage. Updated 1997. Viewed Nov 2008. < > United State Geological Survey WebPage. Updated July 2008. Viewed Nov 2008. < > Wynn, Russell. Updated April 2002.

Viewed Nov 2009. < > Political Map of Portugal - Nations Online Project ___ Political Map of Portugal About Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (Portuguese: República Portuguesa) is a sovereign state in western Europe, it comprises of the continental part of Portugal on the western coast of the Iberian peninsula and the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean. The most western European state is only bordered by one other country-- Spain , in north and north east. Portugal shares a maritime border with Morocco . With an area of 92,090 km² Portugal is compared slightly smaller than Hungary (93,028 km²), or the U.S. state of Indiana . Portugal has a population of 10.4 million people ( 2014 ); capital and largest city is Lisbon with about 550,000 inhabitants. Official language is Portuguese.

Portugal's Main Geographical Regions [show] Mountains The cooler and rainier northern part of the country, to the north of the city of Castelo Branco, is apart from the coastal areas, mostly montainous with elevations up to almost 2000 m in the Serra da Estrela, with Torre 1,993 m (6,539 ft) as the highest peak in the mountain range, represents the highest point in Mainland Portugal. The southern part of the country which extends as far as the Algarve, consists mostly of rolling plains with a climate somewhat warmer and drier than in north. Rivers: Portugal's main rivers are the Douro river with its tributary the Tamega river, the Rio Minho, which forms part of the Spanish/Portuguese border in north west, Rio Mondego, the longest river which flows exclusively in Portuguese territory, and the Tagus (Rio Tejo), the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula. Coastal areas: Algarve The southernmost province of Portugal, on the Atlantic coast with its capital, Faro is a major tourist destination in Europe.

Islands: The island of Madeira is located in the Atlantic Ocean 520 km off the north west African coast. The group of islands constitutes an autonomous region of Portugal. 270,000 people live on the islands (2012). Capital city is Funchal. Madeira is a popular year-round tourist destination, visited annually by about one million people. Azores The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, located about 1,500 km west of Portugal with a population of 245,000 people (2012). The archipelago is in Portuguese possession but partially autonomous. Largest city is Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel. Map is showing Portugal and neighboring Spain with international borders, the national capital Lisbon, district capitals, major cities, expressways, main roads, main railway lines, and major airports. Click on the country/state name on the map to get the respective country or federal state (Bundesland) profile or use the links below. Click on the (state capital) city name for a city map.

Question: Which is the main river flowing through the Portuguese capital of Lisbon?
Answer: Tagus